By Dan Ambrose: Former three division world champion Fernando Montiel (48-4-2, 37 KO’s) wants a shot against WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO’s), according to wbcboxing.com website. Montiel, 33, is hoping to get that fight and he thinks he can beat the 26-year-old Mares if given the chance.

Montiel has a coming up this month on November 24th against Giovanni Caro (24-11-4, 19 KO’s) for the vacant WBC United States (USNBC) Silver super bantamweight title at the Gimnasio Nacional Josue Neri Santos, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. As obscure as that strap is don’t be surprised if a win over the little known Caro vaults Montiel to #1 in the World Boxing Council rankings almost immediately. Montiel is already ranked #9 by the WBC, and picking up the the WBC United States Silver strap could be all that Montiel needs to get a fight with Mares.

The size difference between the 5’4″ Montiel and the 5’4 1/2″ Mares wouldn’t be so bad compared to when Montiel faced the huge Nonito Donaire, who looked gigantic next to Montiel. The results of that fight was Montiel getting destroyed in a 2nd round knockout last year in February. Montiel was then beaten again this time by Victor Terrazas in November of last year by a 12 round decision. Montiel hasn’t lost since then, beating Angky Angkotta and Arturo Santos Reyes, but those guys aren’t in the same league as Mares and Terrazas.

A smarter thing would be for Montiel to try and move back down to flyweight or super flyweight. He was dangerous at those weights and much less so since moving up to bantamweight and then super bantamweight. He’s obviously chasing the money but he’s probably not going to be effective at super bantamweight like he was at the smaller weight classes.

If Montiel is just looking for big payday fights against Donaire and Mares, then he’s making the right move by staying at super bantamweight and trying to get a fight with Mares. But if he thinks he can actually beat those guys then he needs to get a clue and move back down in weight, because he’s not going to either of them.